Comments You Get When You Dress Vintage

[Marla]

I get that! It's so awkward. I do it with pincurls, and, well, most people don't know what a pincurl is. I have to explain my explanation!! lol

Exactly! Most people don't know what sponge rollers are either. And what do I mean when I say that I 'set' my hair at night? "Can't you just do that with a curling iron?" they ask after I explain.

 

[Cirrus]

She just stood there right in front of us and started snapping away, not even attempting to hide the fact, and then walked off again without a word.

I was at The Chap Olympiad on Saturday, I thought there might be one or two professional-type photographers there but I really wasn't prepared for the amount of people with serious camera equipment, I mean like those huge cameras with massive lenses like the paparazzi have.

Whilst I'm really, really flattered someone would want to take a photo of me, hardly any of them asked first! I felt really uncomfortable after a while and it got to the point that when I felt a huge lens pointed in my face I just completely ignored them. There were a couple of people there who actually came and spoke to me which was really nice of them, I really appreciated it, I felt less like an exhibit then! lol

Maybe I'm just being a bit sensitive though as not only was it my first visit to the Olympiad but it was my first time out of the house in my vintage get up!

 

[hailey greenhat]

At a library fundraiser with a 40's theme waiting in line for food a sweet old lady came up to me looked at her husband and said "Shes wearing her hair like we gals used to." I turned red touching my hair self consciously and said thank you. Mind you, it was just up in victory rolls and flipped out at the bottom, but it made my night that she thought i got it right

 

[Amy]

Whilst I'm really, really flattered someone would want to take a photo of me, hardly any of them asked first! I felt really uncomfortable after a while and it got to the point that when I felt a huge lens pointed in my face I just completely ignored them.

How rude! One of the other members here said she embarrasses the person taking the photo by asking them if they want her to pose, and depending on how you're feeling (I expect it can sometimes feel quite intimidating), this might work for you. I think it's rude when a person doesn't ask, though!

 

[MissHannah]

The other trick is to whip out your own camera and start taking pictures of them.Follow them around for a few minutes and look at them as if they are a scientific specimen!

 

[Amy]

The other trick is to whip out your own camera and start taking pictures of them.Follow them around for a few minutes and look at them as if they are a scientific specimen!

lol I love it! lol

 

[Miss Leah]

When I'm dressed in high vintage (hat, gloves, etc) in a sketchy neighborhood like San Francisco's Tenderloin, I feel it protects me! Often the men, instead of asking for money or just being unpleasant, will say something like "Now that's how a lady ought to dress!" or "You look just like my...(mother, sister, grandmother, girlfriend)!" I'll knock wood, because I'm heading over there tonight and will appreciate the vintage fairygodmother's protection!

 

[40'sfetish]

I went to a swing dance/supper club night last Sat night and I'd pincurled my hair, got lots of amazing compliments from like minded people. Kept the set going for another couple of days and wore it into work on Monday. I kept getting bizarre looks all day as if people noticed but had no clue what to say about it lol. Some of the girls said it looked great but mostly just very strange looks. My mum came straight out and said she didn't like it, then again it probably reminds her of her mother who I've seen in pictures with similar hairstyles.

This was my first attempt at this style

 

[Cirrus]

The other trick is to whip out your own camera and start taking pictures of them.Follow them around for a few minutes and look at them as if they are a scientific specimen!

Haha! That's such a good idea! I shall remember that for next time! lol

 

[Fleur De Guerre]

Sadly Cirrus I think that's par for the course at the Olympiad since it became so commercialised. Essentially those of us who dress as we do and take part are there for the entertainment of the 'normal people', and photojournalists never really ask anyone's permission as just being there is 'permission enough'. What's annoyed me is in the descriptions on Getty, I'm described as being 'in costume'. These are my clothes!!

 

[MissHannah]

'In costume'. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr :rage: :rage: :rage: :rage:

 

[Cirrus]

Sadly Cirrus I think that's par for the course at the Olympiad since it became so commercialised. Essentially those of us who dress as we do and take part are there for the entertainment of the 'normal people', and photojournalists never really ask anyone's permission as just being there is 'permission enough'. What's annoyed me is in the descriptions on Getty, I'm described as being 'in costume'. These are my clothes!!

A real shame, that. Especially since politeness and good manners are all part of being a Chap! Though the photojournalists were evidently not trying to enter into the spirit of the thing. Tsk.

'In costume'! The cheek of it! I really wish these people would at least make some attempt to understand the event they are covering. They evidently didn't ask anyone why they dressed the way they do.

 

[Rocketblast]

Essentially those of us who dress as we do and take part are there for the entertainment of the 'normal people', and photojournalists never really ask anyone's permission as just being there is 'permission enough'.

True of any public event like this - you become part of the attraction and therefore fair game for the cameras. I don't mind this too much apart from when very unflattering photos appear on the internet! It's always nicer if people speak to you first, as I tend to do myself out of good manners. I think you should take it as a big compliment if people want to photograph you - it means you're looking pretty damn stylish I reckon

 

[Amy]

you should take it as a big compliment if people want to photograph you - it means you're looking pretty damn stylish I reckon

Fair point. Rude, it may be. But be flattered, -it means they like how you look!

 

[Brooksie]

My Mum loves old styles and elegance but she can't understand anyone who would actually want to go to all the trouble- she went though it all as a teenager and is much happier with modern ways. She positivly blanched when I showed her my new girdle as she said she was forced into a 'gut-crusher' as a teenager, her first bra was a bullet bra so she laughed when she saw mine. She won't wear stockings either. She shuns make-up and agonises over her hair- she has no idea where I got my tastes from- I do- my father idolising Sophia Loren!

fftopic:
Does anyone display thier vintage lingerie- i like to display mine on a manequin at the top of my stairs, rotatinng outfits form time to time. It reminds my sister of the character played by Joanna Lumley in the film adaptionof Cold Comfort Farm.

Hi Tishkaminx - Your mum sounds just like mine...she had to wear all of that stuff back in the day too. She will not wear make-up and wears her hair in a steel grey wash n wear granny perm (she is 78 and a grandma and that is her excuse). She loves to wear jeans, denim shirts, flannel, and sweatshirts. I grew up with 3 older brothers and no sisters. I always chose to be surrounded by ultra feminine things my whole life and shunned ANYTHING boyish (I certainly was not a tomboy!) and it drove her crazy and still does but she never does question where I get my tastes from because I am adopted...I know there must be someone out there that is just like me but don't get me wrong I do love my mum to pieces!

 

[Miss Scarlet]

A real shame, that. Especially since politeness and good manners are all part of being a Chap! Though the photojournalists were evidently not trying to enter into the spirit of the thing. Tsk.

'In costume'! The cheek of it! I really wish these people would at least make some attempt to understand the event they are covering. They evidently didn't ask anyone why they dressed the way they do.

This is off topic, but on the news article on the Chap Olympiad, the woman news reporter at the end said something like "But these events are for men only so as a lady I'm going to sit here and drink." Thanks for making the games look sexist to the whole nation.

 

[Scarlet Belle]

Exactly! Most people don't know what sponge rollers are either. And what do I mean when I say that I 'set' my hair at night? "Can't you just do that with a curling iron?" they ask after I explain.

SO TRUE!!! Im always getting asked how I do my hair, or I get the comment "that must of taken you hours"...as soon as I say "No, it doesnt really I just pop it up in pin curls before I go to bed each night" and they stare at me blankly! Hahahaha. The instant gratification generation want it done in 2 minutes with a straightening iron that can also curl.

...in saying that - tell me if anyone finds that "magic spray" Im up for a giant can of it too! lol

 

[Kiri]

I'll copy and paste from my blog.

"I had a neat conversation with the fellow who's the caretaker for the lake/campsite I was at. He noticed the flower in my hair and commented on how he hadn't seen a flower in someones hair since the 70's. Then he said I looked just like his mother back in the 40's/50's and we got to chatting about how I got into vintage and old shows and movies like The Marx Brothers and I Love Lucy. It was really nice actually. He also got to talking about how it took years for him to figure out his style. He was quite the character. Probably in his 50's with gray shoulder length hair and a moustache. Very nice man though, very sweet and a gentleman, even if he didn't really look the part. It was also lovely having someone comment, usually I just get stares. Oh, although about 2 weeks ago I was at the thrift store and was at the front desk paying when this, mmm, maybe 60 year old man tapped me on the shoulder and said "I just had to ask, are you dressed up for something or is this just you style?" I told him it was just my style and he went on and on about how neat it was that I dressed like that and how fabulous I looked. It was very sweet.
Actually, something I've noticed is it's usually older men that comment on my style, I don't seem to get comments as much from women. As for people my age I just get strange or the occasional admired looks."

Then just today, it was a fair/carnival in my town and I wore a 50's dress and ended up buying some 50's cat-eye inspired sunglasses. I'll post pictures tomorrow. Anywho, quite a few older gentlemen there told me how much they loved my style. It was very sweet.

 

[Deleted member 12480]

The same person decided to tell me to 'go back to the 1920s' yesterday. Fail....

 

[SugarKitten]

I got Lucille Ball again at the cafeteria at work. I don't really quite get it, nice my hair is now Audrey short, but it is red. High-ish waisted skirt and heels, and I get to be Lucille Ball. Hey, I'll take it! (but I don't look like her! At all! - at least it's the right era.)

I was also told all I needed was a vacuum to complete the look. I think I can do without that realism...